Published: 13 February 2026DD NewsEconomy
CCEA Approves India's First Underwater Road-Rail Tunnel Under Brahmaputra at ₹18,662 Crore
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Modi, approved on February 14, 2026 a ₹18,662 crore twin-tube underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra River in Assam. The 33.7 km project includes a 15.79 km twin-tube tunnel — India's first and only the second such project globally.
The tunnel connects Gohpur (NH-15) and Numaligarh (NH-715), cutting distance from 240 km to 34 km and travel time from 6 hours to 20 minutes. One tube will serve road traffic, the other rail infrastructure. The CCEA also approved railway expansion projects worth ₹18,509 crore covering 389 km across Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
Mains angle
Q: Evaluate the strategic and economic significance of the ₹18,662 crore underwater road-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra approved by the CCEA. (10 marks)
Answer (50 words):
The 33.7 km project, including a 15.79 km twin-tube tunnel, is India's first and world's second underwater road-rail link. Connecting Gohpur and Numaligarh, it cuts travel from 240 km to 34 km and six hours to twenty minutes, enabling all-weather North-East connectivity, troop mobility and regional economic integration.
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Frequently asked questions
What did the CCEA approve for the Brahmaputra in February 2026?
The **Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)**, chaired by PM Modi, approved on **February 14, 2026** a **₹18,662 crore twin-tube underwater road-cum-rail tunnel** under the **Brahmaputra River in Assam**. The **33.7 km project** includes a **15.79 km twin-tube tunnel** — India's first underwater tunnel and only the second such project globally.
Which cities does the Brahmaputra underwater tunnel connect?
The tunnel connects **Gohpur (NH-15)** and **Numaligarh (NH-715)** in Assam, cutting the road distance from **240 km to 34 km** and travel time from **6 hours to just 20 minutes**. One tube will serve road traffic and the other a rail corridor.
What is the strategic significance of the Brahmaputra underwater tunnel project?
The Brahmaputra tunnel is strategically significant for **India's Northeast connectivity** — improving civilian access, enabling **military logistics**, and reducing dependence on vulnerable surface infrastructure in a flood-prone, seismically active zone. It is India's first underwater road-rail tunnel.
What is the total length of the Brahmaputra tunnel project approved in 2026?
The total project length is **33.7 km**, including a **15.79 km twin-tube underwater tunnel** under the Brahmaputra River. The project was approved by **CCEA** at a cost of **₹18,662 crore** on February 14, 2026.
How many similar underwater road-rail tunnels exist globally?
India's Brahmaputra underwater tunnel is only the **second such project globally** — making it an engineering landmark. It will be India's first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel, comparable to Europe's Channel Tunnel (Chunnel) between UK and France in concept.
